The purchase would cover TikTok operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand and would result in Microsoft owning and operating it in those markets.
If Microsoft can position itself as a steward of TikTok it removes the data issue (if not the over-arching national tensions between China and India).
“Among other measures, Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States.
To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”.